Dead on Time

In contrast to seemingly everyone else, I hated this episode. Really, really hated it. Mostly because Morse acts like a complete idiot the entire time.

He fawns over Susan, the woman from his past who left him for another man, like a love-sick puppy dog. It looks like he wants to lick her boots half the time, he's so infatuated. And all the time he acts like an idiot, disregarding the case and police procedure completely.

And for what? A woman that manipulates and twists and turns people around her little finger out of some need to have people worship at her feet.

The evil ladies don't stop there, with Miss Moneyponey herself giving particularly evil and spiteful life to an amazingly distasteful character.

The only ones I feel sorry for are Lewis (who needs to solve the case himself cause Morse doesn't have enough blood to operate his brain), and poor old David Haig, playing a very pathetic and easily manipulated man burdened by guilt he doesn't really deserve.

Morse has always had spectacularly bad taste in women. And this cements that as his biggest failing.

He can't see two feet in front of his nose when an old flame is involved, and he turns from dedicated, clever detective to a numpty of epic proportions. Susan is a selfish, horrible woman who almost destroys Morse here, and he lets her like the good little loyal puppy he is.

There's a fine line between being a gentleman and just being an idiot when it comes to love, and Morse crosses that line by about 100 thousand miles.

Awful episode.

I do not wish to speak ill of the dead. In what image was Colin Dexter trying to create the Morse character? Was it Hercules Poirot, or James Bond?

The former for having a great detecting brain in solving whodunit crimes. And the latter not for his espionage and secret agent skills but for his womanizing skills.

Almost in every episode there is a woman interest. Morse is drawn to all sorts of women. Women much younger than he, married women, widowed women, even in one episode a woman of the cloth (episode with Zoe Wanamaker in it).

To me the stories of the series are hugely ruined by these women chasing shenanigans and at most times the really loud and annoying opera music and classical music. I do not like opera at all, but I like classical music but not any of the ones played in the eight season series.

Also Dexter could have created a much less despiseable character. Why did he have to make Morse a bitter, annoying, obnoxious, arrogant, demanding, egotistical and to an extent misogynistic drunk.

Having said all that no other person could bring the Morse character to life in the aforementioned mould than the late great John Thaw!

I loved this episode. We definitely get more of an insight into the characters of Morse and Lewis. Lewis has a true love for Morse and Morse is so despairingly in need of someone's love. John Thaw is wonderful in this show..his character has so many facets to his personality. He's not just a grumpy guy..he's so much more. Lewis is truly a kind and very efficient partner..I just love his character more and more. I bought the box set from Amazon..money very well spent.

I watched this episode yesterday and was so deeply impressed I decided to register just for delivering a review.

I've watched a good half of all episodes and will recommend this one URGENTLY to you… … but ONLY if you have watched at least 5 others previously !

The episodes' s plot is Shakespearean fiendish (though not entirely selfish). It reeks of revenge, love, hatred, lost possibilities and much more. Including even a "Deus ex machina" ...

It is most revealing of Morse's character - who is drawn very personally into this murder case. So far indeed as to loose his grip on evidence, motives etc. Which gives Lewis a chance to rise above his usual role - indicating the attitude he will come to be loved for in his much later role as detective in his own right …

At first it seems soooo simple - but then "fate" starts to entangle all players into her fangs. Yet things eventually turn out quite differently! You'll only get an insight into what's occurred when Morse's finally "left" …

OH - and a goodie at the end: The title has a threefold meaning, an a) literal b) metaphorical and c) technical one … ;-)

Morse is one of the best shows ever made, when it's good it's good, when it's on top form very little comes close, this is one of the best.

Dead on time is a fabulous murder mystery, but it is so much more, we get such an insight into the personal life of Morse, we meet the woman that he almost married, plus we see how much Lewis cares for his grumpy colleague.

Such a smart plot, it will have you puzzled right the way through, you'll be intrigued, but you'll also be engrossed by Morse's behaviour as he is re acquainted with his former love.

It's a wonderful episode for Lewis, possibly his best, he shows how clever he really is.

An amazing cast, some truly brilliant talent pops up here, Joanna David is tremendous, she's fantastic throughout, mentions also for Samantha Bond and David Haig.

One of the best of the best, 10/10.